Reflection - Fools

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061719.cfm
II Corinthians 6:1-10
Matthew 5:38-42

The teaching about an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is found as far back as the book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible. In its time it was intended as a restriction on common behavior of the time so that neither revenge nor punishment would be greater than the original offense. The teaching was set aside by Jesus as we hear in the current reading. Consequently, I am surprised when some will so readily quote the “eye for an eye” verse as if they are knowledgeable in Scripture and believe that line justifies their pursuit of revenge.

The whole notion of law is worth at least a moments attention.

Laws are either prescriptive or proscriptive.

A proscriptive law imposes restraints or restrictions. Both the “Thou shall nots . . . “ of the Ten Commandments and the larger portion of civil law are proscriptive. They tell us what not to do or how far civic government allows us to go. Take speed signs, for example. The sign is not telling us how fast we should go — that would be prescriptive. Rather, the sign is telling us that we should not go faster than the speed that is posted. That’s why it’s called a speed limit.

A prescriptive law, on the other hand, tells us that this is the way it is supposed to be. So, when we are told: “Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind”, we are not only being told what to do, we are also being told that this is the right and proper way to live. Likewise the teachings of Jesus, in what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount — a small portion of which we just read — are also prescriptive.

Now an interesting thing about prescriptive laws is that they are usually open-ended. That is to say, they imposes no limits. Loving one’s children and loving one’s spouse seem particularly good examples in this regard. We all too frequently read of the parent who dies while trying to save an endangered child. Just recently there was a news story of a father who saved his child from drowning but died himself in the process. The happier stories are frequently stories of courtship, such as where a man is willing to act the fool in order to convince his prospective bride of his worthiness. Andrew Lloyd Weber gave us a rather perceptive look at this aspect of love a few years ago.

Love, love changes everything, hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything; How you live and how you die
Yes love, love changes everything.

Off into the world we go; Planning futures, shaping years
Love bursts in and suddenly; All our wisdom disappears
Love, makes fools of everyone; All the rules we make are broken
Yes, love, love changes everyone, live or perish, in its flame
Love will never ever let you be the same

When Paul talks about what he has endured in order to preach the gospel . . . When Paul talks about the patience and kindness that have been manifested by him through the power of the Spirit in the course of his missionary work . . . When Paul itemizes the misunderstandings others have about his life in Christ . . . When Paul does these things he is talking about being a fool for Christ; he’s talking about the fact that love will not let him be the same man he was before. Love has changed everything.

When Jesus admonishes his listeners:

• To offer no resistance
• To turn the other [cheek] as well.
• To hand him your cloak as well.
• To go with him for two miles.
• To pray for those who persecute you
• Etcetera, etcetera

He is not proscribing limits on our behavior, but rather he is encouraging the open-ended response of one who loves.

What do you call the king who sets aside his crown to live with the commoners?

What do you call the king who surrenders his royal power and authority to live as his people live?

What do you call the king who leaves the serenity of his ‘air-conditioned’ palace to put up with wind and rain, heat and dust, pain and sorrow?

What do you call the king who dies so that his people might have life?

First, you call him a fool!

Then, you call him Jesus!

Paul opened this section of his letter with a plea to the Corinthians: “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” It would be appropriate to restate his entreaty with just a slight shift: “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God with limits.”

Time and again the Lord encourages me: be a fool and receive my grace without limits.